Coin-counting machine



March 11, 1930.

c, 1.. DOWNEY COIN: COUNTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //vV/v70/P.'

By M Wu ATTOAM/EKS.

March 11, 1930. c. 1.. DOWNEY COIN COUNTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1925 s sliders-sheet 2 March 11, 1930.

C. L. DOWNEY COIN COUNTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 m/l/fA/roef 1-: -7 I 7 Ci I 5? H I W w Mm 79 m Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES CLEMENT LEE DOWNEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO COIN-COUNTING MACHINE Application filed July 27,

My invention relates to machines for counting coins, and has as its object the improvement in modes of operation and manipulati on, in such machines.

Among other things my improvements relate to the provision of devices which may be employed in the receiving of the coins as they come from the counting mechanism. Also I provide a device which permits of the resiliency of the feed wheel devices, when sub ected to the coins of various thickness, which not only compensates for the ars attendant upon operation, but insures a perfect grasp on the coin and leaves said coin exposed to the sight of the operator at all times.

My objects also are the provision of a tray for placing coins ready for feeding into the hopper of the machine, which tray can be arranged together with the machine for storage, and quickly set up and supported on the machine in position to deliver coins thereto they also relate to the improvement in certain details of construction over my former Patent 1,546,014 granted July 14,1925.

I accomplish my objects by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section taken through the coin feeding Wheel attachment.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure '4 is a vertical cross section showing the coin feeding devices as distinguished from the counting devices, on the line 4, 4, of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the counting limiting devices.

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the coin tray.

Figure 9 is a perspective of the trip device for the counter release.

Figure 10 is a detail showing the coin roller operating mechanism.

In the preferred form of machine there is a 1923. Serial No. 654,286.

rectangular metal box 1, having a vertical shaft 2 adequately supported therein and carrying a revolving table 3, which centrifugally sends the coins to the counting devices. Around the space occupied by the revolving table in the top of the box, is a ring 4, which has a slot 5, at its lower end. The table is driven from a handle 6, revolving a shaft 7. On the shaft 7 a large gear 32 is mounted in position to engage a gear 7. The gear 7 drives the beveled gear transmission at 8 by which the table shaft is revolved. The passage of coins through the slot 5 is hastened and enforced by means of a deflector arm 13 on the plate 9. This plate is mounted on the ring adjacent the slot 5 so that the angle of the arm and the width of the opening may be adjusted for coins of different diameter. The plate has a curved slot 10 and is secured by a clamp screw 11 extending through the slot.

As the table revolves this deflector plate diverts the coins so that they pass through the slot 5, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, it being apparent that the plate 9 may be moved circumferentially of the ring 4 to vary the size of opening 5, or that the portion 13 of the plate 9 may be arcuately moved relative to the screw 11 to effect this adjustment. It is evident t iat for coins of larger diameter the deflector will be adjusted so as to leave more of the slot open, so that the coins will always approach the counting wheel and be properly engaged by the coin feeding devices adjacent thereto. To adjust the plate the clamp screw is loosened and the slot in the plate permits of its adj ustment.

To control for thickness of coins there is mounted on the ring a plate 14, which is raised or lowered by a screw 15. threaded through the plate into a boss on the outside of the ring 4. The plate 14 at its lower end extends across the slot and by adjusting the screw the plate is lowered or raised to adjust the depth of the opening 5. I prefer to place a scale on this screw 15 as indicated in Figure 3, so as to indicate the proper adjustment for coins of different thickness. As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the plate 14 projects interiorly of the ring 4, thus serving to prevent coins of excess thickness from becoming engaged with the plate 9.

A raceway 19 is formed in the top of the box, which top carries all the mechanism and can be lifted out together with all the counting mechanism from the rest of the box. A. counter 18 is driven from a star wheel 20, arranged alongside of the coin channel, and having a beveled gear transmission with the counter as at 21. The shaft 22 on which the star wheel and gear are mounted, extends down through the top of the case, and has a ratchet mechanism at the base. This mechanism (Figure 7) which prevents overthrow of the counter, and thus allows for very rapid action of the machine without danger, comprises a star wheel 23 similar to the star wheel 20, which wheel 23 is located beneath the frame that supports the coin limiting means. Also mounted on this frame is a pivoted arm 24, which is spring-pulled at 25, and has a projection at the end, as shown at 26, this proj ection being of the shape of one of the serrations in the side of the wheel 23. As the two star wheels are alike and the projection 26 fits the serrations, a perfect mechanism is ob tained for holding the counter operating mechanism is a position ready to receive another coin, at the top of the machine, and truly centered for this purpose.

The means for feeding the coins, i. e. engaging them as they are ejected from the revolving table, and forcing them past the star wheel, is of great importance in machines of this character. It is essential to quick operation that there should be a resilient action, and also that the action be sure, smooth, and open to observation.

I fixedly mount so as to extend up through a slot into the coin raceway in the top of the box, a lower feed wheel 30 on a shaft 34 which will be hereinafter described, and drive this wheel in such a manner as to force it up resiliently against an upper driven wheel 31, the two wheels being by preference faced with resilient material.

The shaft 7 controlled by the handle at the side of the machine and driving the table as noted has a gear 32 thereon. The gear 32 meshes with a pinion 33 on a parallel shaft 34 which is journaled in the forked arms 37 of a bracket 34 which is rotatably journaled on the shaft 7. The rocking bracket 34 has one end which is provided with a fixed pin 35 which is limited to a short reciprocating stroke by two lugs 35 extended out from the box wall. A spring on this pin as at 36 presses on the bracket. The bracket also carries the gear 3'? mounted in the upwardly extending arm 37 of the bracket, which gear thus becomes planetary to the gear 32, and is driven by being mounted on the spindle of the pinion 33, so that the resilient action of the lower and upper feed wheels is provided for in part by the spring bracket by means of which the lower wheel is mounted and the drive gear for the upper wheel.

Referring to the upper feed wheel 31, (Figures 2 and 3), it will be noted that the spindle 41 for this wheel is mounted in a block or bearing 42, this block being pivoted by a pin 43 in a mounting piece 44. The mounting piece 44 is set on the top of the box and held in place by means of suitable screws. The spindle 41 passes through an enlarged opening in the end of the mounting piece, as shown at 45, and is there equipped with a pinion 46. This pinion 46 meshes with the pinion 37 mounted on the spindle of the planetary pinion, hitherto mentioned.

The structure is such that, as a coin comes out of the table device, it is grasped between the two wheels, which are driven in opposite directions, and are as noted, preferably resiliently-faced to grasp the coins, and force them past the star wheel, so as to cause the latter to revolve. and the vibration incident to the passage of the coins between the two feed wheels, are resiliently compensated, both by the rocking of the pinion for the upper feed wheel, due to the form of bearing block noted, and to the resilient action of the drive devices within the box.

I have found from experience that in order to obtain a perfect action in counting machines, it is necessary to provide a resilient action of the same or similar function to that noted above, and do not insist upon the mechanisms shown and described as the sole means possible for accomplishing the purpose stated. Among other things it should be observed that this form of feed results in the coin being within View of the operator at all times, so that if any clogging should occur, or the machine break down in some manner, this can be at once observed before any faulty counting results.

To regulate the size of the coin raceway to the end that the coins may be forced to engage the star wheel, I provide on the top of the box an L-shaped plate 50, having a slot 51 therein, and calibration marks on the top surface thereof. The clamp screw 52 is mounted in the box top and passes through the slot in order to hold the plate 50 at desired positions. The plate has an undercut end as at 53, which overlies the raceway 19 in the box top, and the box top is countersunk, so that the base thereof registers with the base of the channel. As is obvious, this adjust ment of the plate adjusts the lateral dimension of the coin channel.

Pivoted on the side of the machine by means of lugs 60 thereon, is a bracket 61, which swings down by gravity to a position opposite the raceway so as to receive all of the coins that are projected through the raceway. A set screw (32 in the side of the brackct, holds coin tubes, as illustrated at 63, (Figure 4), which tubes vary in thickness of walls so that their internal diameters vary The thickness of the coins,

box top flange.

to accommodate the differentsizes of coin to be counted.

The bracket 61 also carries a deflector plate at its upper edge, which lies above the coin channel in the box top and above the top of the bracket 61, and is formed with two deflector portions 64 and 65 respectively.

A plate 66 is mounted on the bottom of the box, so that it can swing under the box, when desired. The coin tubes are long enough so that the plate closes off the bottom thereof.

In view of the hinging of the bracket 61, the tube can be swung away from the side of the box, so as to permit the insertionof a tu' bular coin wrapper as shown in elevation in Fig. 1 at the lower end of tube 68. The

tube is then allowed to drop, and all coins ejected from the feed wheels slide along the raceway in the box top and thence beneath the deflectorv plate and down through the bracket'61 into the tube and the wrapper therein. When the coin tube is swung down to the side of the box, the plate 66 will close the wrapper by folding under one side thereof, so that there will be no danger of coins falling through.

The coin tray is shown at 70, which is of the ordinary shape of a tray with a constricted spout portion 71. The tray is so shaped that the machine can be set onto it, with the coin tube hanging in the spout portion thereof, when the machine isstored or is being shipped.

There is a hinged bail 7 3 on the outer end of the tray, mounted in bosses 74 extending from the tray 70. The bosses have stops to limit the movement of the bail so that it will serveas a support for the outer end of the tray. 7

The tray has beneath the spout, (Figure 8) a pair of lugs 75, in which is set a long pin 76,-that mounts arplate 77. This plate is shaped to swing in under the flange 78 on v the box top, and by setting the tray up against the side of the box, and swinging the plate 77 under the flange, the spout end of the tray is held against the box. The pin 7 6 has a curved back end 79, which registers with a hole (not shown) in one of the ears 80 by means of which the plate 77 is pivotally supported, and also with a like hole in one of the lugs 75. By pushing the pin lengthwise, and turning it so that the end 79 registers with the two holes, the plate 77 will be locked in its position of engagement with the The spout may also have a depending post 81, at its outer end, to engage in suitable hole 82 placed about the box top, where desired, thereby giving an additional grasp on the counting machine.

'It may be observed that this tray is used for dumping a large quantity of coins therein, from which they are raked by the finger throughthe spout. The walls of the spout The remainder of my invention consists essentially in improvement details over my patent hitherto referred to, and reference is made to the said patent'for descriptivedetails of the operation of the parts named.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9 particularly, it will be noted that the coin counting device, as energized by the starwheel, is controlled'in its operationby means of a pinion on the star wheelshaftengaging with a largegear '91, mounted in the frame 92, depending from the box top. Ashaft 93 is mounted in this frame and extends up to a bearing in the box top (not shown). The gear- 91 is loose on this shaftand is provided on its uppersurface with ratchet teeth 93, so that upon stoppage-of the ratchet, the gear and the star wheel device will be blocked, and any counting stopped.

Also loose onthe shaft 93 is a gear 94, carrying a disk 95, that has a pawl striking finger 96 thereon. pawl striking finger, the :gear and hence the disk 95 is caused to revolve, carrying along with'it, the said finger. This revolution or setting of the disk is accomplished by a pinion 96 meshing with the gear 94, and operated-froma finger piece or knob 97 at the top of the machine. The position of this knob is indicated by a calibrated'collar so that the number of coins which it is desired to count may be regulated, and a removablepin 98 which-extends through a hole in the casing, which can be lifted and dropped into various holes in the disk 95, is used to prevent the pawl striking finger front fbeing dislocated during the operation of the machine after a given setting. As so far described there is no difference bet-ween the presentmachine and that shown in my former apphcatlon.

Mounted fast. on the vertical shaft 93*,

which shaft is under springtension from a clock spring 99, is a pawl carrying arm 100 WhICll rotates in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 6. The pawl 101 is pivoted 1n the outer end of the arm ]00, so that it can be moved to positions of engagement or disengagement from the ratchet 93, about which it moves, the arm being next above the ratchet. The spring on the shaft 93 tends to force the pawl 101- to such a position that it will swing around the ratchet 93, with the pawl striking finger 96 engaging the'tail of the pawl 101 and forcing the front thereof into mesh with the ratchet. (Figure 6).

patent mentioned, and the relatively fixed stop consists ofan arm 102,' which has a small To adjust theposition ofthe This structure again is like that of my "stopping pin -is shown at 103,- and projects up i into the coin raceway, just ahead of the coin feeding wheels, to absolutely prevent any coin from getting into mesh with the star wheel, when the desired number of coins has been counted. The arm 106 is mounted on a rock shaft 104, which arm is under the influence of a piece of spring wire 105, and by means of which the stop pin 103 and the rock shaft are united.

The end of the rock shaft which projects into the casing is formed in an inverted U- shape 107, to leave a notch facing downwardly, into which the end of the stop arm 102 will project, but the stop arm has a shoulder 108, which at one location of the parts engages the outer leg of the portion 107, as seen in Fig. 6 thereby holding the rock shaft in position of retraction of the stop pin. When the stop arm is lying within the notch, as when the pawl 101 has moved the member 102 through its engagement therewith, the spring 105 will draw the rock shaft into a position to project the stop pin into coin blocking position.

Extending through the frame parts is a vertical pin 109, which pin has a cam 110 thereon, this cam having also a projecting finger 111 which cams the rock shaft into latched position with the arm 102 and with the same camming movement prevents the pawl 101 from engaging the ratchet. If the parts are considered as being arranged with the pawl arm 100 engaging the stop arm 102, and the stop arm thereby thrust into a position with its end lying within the notch of the rock shaft, which relationship of the parts has been caused by the engagement of the pawl 101 with the arm 102, due to the rotation of the gear 91, thus projecting the pin 108 into the path of the advancing coins to prevent counting thereof, and the cam and finger device 110, 111, is rocked clockwise by means of the handle 112 on the pin 109, then the cam 110 will rock the rock shaft so as to withdraw the stop pin, and will thrust over the stop arm through the engagement of its shoulder therewith. In the movement of the cam under the influence of handle 112, such member engages one leg of the member 107 to rotate the rock shaft and restore the count ing mechanisms to operative condition. The finger 111 will at the same time tip the pawl so that it leaves its engagement with the ratchet, whereupon the spring on the pawl arm shaft will swing the arm and pawl around until the pawl is forced back into ratchet engagement by the movable stop or pawl striking arm 96, hitherto mentioned, and the machine will then be ready for further operation. When sufficient coins have been counted to bring the pawl arm around to the fixed stop arm, and this arm is thereby rocked slightly, this will push the said arm in position to register entirely with the notch and the rock shaft can swing to coin stopping position.

A fixed pawl striking arm 113 may be used, so that the movable stop or pawl striking arm 96 may be moved entirely out of the way, and the fixed pawl arm will then hold the pawl in a non-ratchet engaging position so that the counter device will continue to operate without any limit.

As compared to my patent, already referred to, I have shown the parts of the counting limiting means in the form in which I preferably employ them at present in machines of the type noted. The action I find to be somewhat improved over my former devices, although in principle and in the mode of operation generally, the present machine as described, is the same as the former one.

I wish in my claims, that follow, to be entitled to the use of the doctrine of equivalents in the construction of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A coin counting machine, comprising a coin counting device, adapted to be operated by the coins, and means for feeding the coins past said counting device, comprising rollers to engage the top and bottom of the coin, and means for driving both rollers, and means for mounting one of said rollers, at least, so as to move to and from the coins being fed to adapt itself to the thickness of the coin, said means comprising a shaft for the roller, a long ournal piece for said shaft, and means for pivotally mounting said ournal piece so as to permit an oscillation thereof, the driving means for said roller comprising a gear on the roller shaft, and a resiliently mounted and driven gear meshing with the gear first named, whereby resilient action is imparted to said journal piece and feed roller.

2. A' feed device for coins to be used in coin counting machines, comprising a pair of rollers arranged edge to edge to feed the coin between them, a resiliently held bracket on which one of said rollers is mounted, said roller having a shaft rotated by power, a pivotal journal piece, the other of said rollers having a shaft passing through said journal piece, a gear on said latter shaft, and a gear on the shaft of the first named roller meshing therewith, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a coin counting machine, the combination of a rotary device energized by the coins being counted, a limit means adapted to control the number of rotary movements of said device, comprising a member intermeshing with said rotary device, a stop device adapted to block the passage of coins to the rotary device, and means adapted to automatically control the stop and the limit means comprising a pawl movable from an adjustable stop to a fixed stop, said fixed stop formed as an arm having a small pivotal movement,

a rock shaft connected to the stop device to actuate it, and said arm being adapted to clear said rock shaft in one position, and to engage the rock shaft in another position, said pawl adapted when coming into contact with said arm to move it to the said one position, and manually controlled means for tripping said pawl, said means being formed so as to force over the rock shaft to coin stop release position, and to force the said stop arm to its other position.

4. In a coin counting machine having counting mechanism adapted to be operated by coins, a feed roller for the coins having a shaft carrying said roller, means for driving said roller, said shaft having a long journal piece, and means for pivotally mounting said journal piece, and resilient means operatively connected to said journal piece for allowing movement of said shaft, whereby said feed roller may move to and from the coins being fed to adapt itself to the varied thickness of coins fed thereby.

CLEMENT LEE DOVVNEY. 

